His Cap Badge is the Mailed Fist of the Royal Armoured Corps in silver or nickel metal.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 11 Sep 2020 19:32:17 BST
In the preparation for D-Day Commandos used Bombed and wrecked British Cities to acquire skills for Fighting in Built-Up Areas which was to stand them in good stead once across the Channel. This known by the Acronym FIBUA.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 14:26:06 BST
This photo taken on Tilbury Docks, the War had ended and these Commandos are back in the UK with bulging Rucksacks and Kitbags. I wonder what they have managed to ‘scrounge’ under the “To the Victor the
Spoils Rule! A war time Commando told me that the seabed outside the
entrance to Portsmouth Naval Base would have been littered with German
Lugers and Daggers after being warned that Customs Officers awaited!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Thu 10 Sep 2020 09:19:26 BST
The Rifle being used in the photo was a captured German Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) which could be fired single round, bursts or automatic. It used a ‘short’ 7.92mm round weaker than the standard German ‘long’ 7.92mm round bust that made it easier to fire and aim. It proved quite expensive so the design was amended to make it cheaper and easier to make.It was superior to the British .303” Lee Enfield No: 4 Rifle in its ability to bring heavy fire to bear, not dis-similar to the US .30-06” Garand kin that respect.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 10:41:45 BST
The left hand medal in the photo bears the Bar for the North West Frontier so dates from a Service in India up near the border with Afghanistan!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 21:00:16 BST
In the preparations for the Invasion Troops trained in bombed-out areas of British Cities where they could practise and rehearse ’Fighting in Built-up Areas’ (FIBUA) as opposed to training in areas of open land such as the Hills and Moorland. In some parts of the UK whole areas were taken over and all the inhabitants and livestock moved out. Some have never been allowed back with those areas still retained by the MoD for Military Training. One is near Thetford in Norfolk, another at Imber on Salisbury Plain and the third is near Lulworth Cove which includes a ‘live’ Tank Gunnery Range. The whole of the South Hams in Devon was cleared for ‘live’ Infantry Training (means weapons were being fired ).
Posted by David Prichard on Sat 29 Aug 2020 18:15:00 BST
Sam was a a Sergeant of the Cardiff City Police when I joined, there were a few Police Officers in the Force at that time who volunteered for service with the Commandos when the ban was lifted allowing Officers to either go RAF Aircrew or to the Commandos. The ones I can remember is Frank Kirby, Ray Sparkes, Bill Everett.They were highly respected in both aspects. I took some joshing having come from the Royal Marines Commando Training where I had been JNCO Instructor until I mentioned I was 4 on D-Day and shorter than their ‘A’ Frame rucksack. I believe they all served with 3 Commando. On retirement he took up a position as Chief Security Officer at The University Hospital of Wales. He was a fine man and extremely popular in the Force.
‘
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 18:10:32 BST
Interestingly this Commandos’ Cap Badge is the 17/21 Lancers, and is the Skull and Crossbones Emblem of that Regiment with the Motto “Or Glory”. It must have looked well impressive on his Green Beret!
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:19:29 BST
Photo update
Robert Abrams identifies John Abrams, his Uncle, back row 1st left
Tony Birth identifies his uncle Jim Hirst back row 3rd left.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sun 10 May 2020 14:39:44 BST
EDIT
extra info to my comment, Cornelius, or Connie as he was known to his family, was one of 6 brothers, of which three others are confirmed to have served during the war. They were:
George - SSgt 7641906 in the REME
Harry - Royal Artillery in 8th Army at time of El Alamein
Albert - Royal Irish Fusiliers
Jonny
Ron
Other members of his extended family were:
Patrick - Royal Lincolnshire Regiment
Robert - Gordon Highlanders
Edward - Rifle Brigade
Thomas Simpson DSM (AB, RN on HMMTB416 KIA 24/06/1944) - brother in law
Posted by David Lynch on Sat 21 Mar 2020 20:18:45 GMT
Number 49 is my great-uncle, Pte (later Cpl) 2723548 Cornelius Cuthbert Lynch of the Irish Guards
Posted by David Lynch on Sat 21 Mar 2020 20:04:04 GMT
Joe Millard
My grandad Joseph Millard is sat on the front on the middle boat 290 with his feet over the edge, no beret and his arm round the fella next to him.
Can clearly see its him, with his jet black hair, thick eye brows, broad beaming smile (still smiles just like this) also verified by the fact he's always said he lost his beret getting on the boat over to France
Posted by Rebecca Harding on Sun 19 Jan 2020 21:12:11 GMT
My dad - Leslie Fosberry - is third row, 11th from the left. His Service Records show that he was transferred from No.4 Cdo to No.3 Cdo on July 20th, 1945.
Posted by Kelvin Fosberry on Thu 02 Jan 2020 21:09:26 GMT
Photo updated
Thank you for identifying your Grandfather Harold Cornford. If you have other photos from his Commando days please register and post on the Forum, or contact us via the Contact Form on the Homepage.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Tue 20 Aug 2019 10:38:21 BST
33 identified as Harold Cornford
Almost certainly, No 33 is my grandfather Harold Cornford (Army No 114 114 21, DoB 11 Mar 1922, enlisted 19 Mar 1942).
His younger brother also identified him in the picture.In addition, there is a lot of similarity to pictures that we have of him.
Posted by CH Siepenkothen on Sat 17 Aug 2019 12:13:18 BST
June 1944 service
In June 1944 Cfn. Burrows was deployed as a jeep driver with 2 Troop [No.3 Cdo. War Diary].
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 17 Jul 2019 13:59:08 BST
It’s difficult to see but I believe 4 row 6th from the left is my dad. I have this exact picture from his personal items. James Roland Greaves. His friend John Maybury had died earlier in the year as the date on the back just says 1945.
Posted by Andrea greaves on Mon 17 Jun 2019 03:36:23 BST
Photo updated
Location and date confirmed. The whole commando had troop photos taken this day - source 3 Cdo War Diary entry 8/11/43.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Mon 10 Jun 2019 22:54:13 BST
Thomas Gerald Dennis
I'm 99% certain that my wife's uncle Lance Sergeant Thomas Gerald Dennis (3 Commando, 6 troop, 14241660) is stood on the far side of LCI 290 just to the left of the funnel of LCI289
He was the Commando mentioned on page 118 of John Durnford-Slater's book as winning the Gibraltar garrison heavyweight boxing tournament.
As a cross check I have a large scale picture of him that I can supply for a second opinion, just not sure who to send to. I'm new to the site.
He is also front row 5th in from left on this photo
Posted by Kevin Vesey on Mon 11 Feb 2019 21:27:24 GMT
Thomas Gerald Dennis
I'm 99% certain that No 1 is my wife's uncle Thomas Gerald Dennis. 14241660. He enlisted on 26.07.42 at Achnacarry. He was discharged with the rank of Lance Sergeant on 29.03.1945. I have many other pieces of info to pass on and will do so. He features on several other photos of 3 Commando 6 Troop on the site.
Posted by Kevin Vesey on Mon 11 Feb 2019 21:12:42 GMT
No 3 Commando 6 Troop
Hi, My wife's uncle Lance Sergeant Thomas Gerald Dennis is seated front row No 5 from Left. He is also visible in several other photos on the site and I have other info and photos to add. He was the Commando mentioned on page 118 of John Durnford-Slater's book as winning the Gibraltar garrison heavyweight boxing tournament. I believe he also appears on the photo on this site, with the three landing craft prior to D Day. He is stood on LCI 290 just to the left of the funnel of LCI289. This is my first post I hope I've done it correctly.
Posted by Kevin Vesey on Mon 11 Feb 2019 20:54:30 GMT
Reference units
Stephane if you copy and paste the forum reference shown on the image you will see an entry "The LCI(s) is LCI(s) 509. The '290' number is the 'Landing Table Index Number' (LTIN) allocated to each landing craft in the invasion fleet." Please add any further detail to that forum message.
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Sat 15 Sep 2018 23:13:18 BST
At the back LCI 533 48 RM Cdo
Posted by stephane on Fri 14 Sep 2018 10:21:20 BST
Hello.
This is not 3 cdo, but 45 RM Cdo troops.
Load N°289 LCI 518 B Troop 45 RM cdo Lt.Col Ries co And HQ
Load N°290 LCI 532 D Troop.
Think the one in the foreground is LCI 528 C Troop.
Posted by stephane on Fri 14 Sep 2018 10:18:21 BST
correction, William [Billy] Howard. 4th from right front row.
Posted by william howard on Wed 12 Sep 2018 15:50:04 BST
